A talk in the key of C Jon Dron Jon Dron University of Brighton 5 th May 2005 Oxford Brookes

if (areYouSittingComfortably?) { then Ill begin…

Distinctiveness problem solving problem solving precision (it works or it doesnt) precision (it works or it doesnt) process/product process/product heuristic/algorithmic heuristic/algorithmic multi-disciplinary multi-disciplinary creative/logical creative/logical perhaps not all one discipline? perhaps not all one discipline? perhaps not a discipline at all? perhaps not a discipline at all?

What sort of subject is programming? science? science? engineering? engineering? design? design? composition? composition? mathematics/logic? mathematics/logic? all the above? all the above? none of the above? none of the above? all of the above but greater than the sum of the parts? all of the above but greater than the sum of the parts? something else? something else?

disciplines science, engineering, mathematics, logic etc may help to define the rules of the game science, engineering, mathematics, logic etc may help to define the rules of the game but not how it should be played but not how it should be played

Teaching programming/teaching music Facts, theories and arcane formal notations Facts, theories and arcane formal notations sequence selection and iteration sequence selection and iteration mathematical underpinnings mathematical underpinnings interoperability issues interoperability issues practical but constrained skills practical but constrained skills creativity creativity technical virtuosity technical virtuosity

Is there an equivalent of… scales and arpeggios? scales and arpeggios? jazz/rock/blues? jazz/rock/blues? conducting an orchestra? conducting an orchestra? listening/musical appreciation? listening/musical appreciation? performance? performance? composition? composition? repertoire? repertoire?

Composition

keyboard skills

Listening skills

Performance genres genres repertoire repertoire style style

Some other analogies Dont like the music idea? Here are some other thoughts…

Architecture/ Art & Design

Creative writing/drama

Words we might (but seldom do) use… seminar seminar studio studio discussion discussion crit crit practice practice reading as a writer reading as a writer portfolio portfolio mentoring mentoring aesthetics aesthetics creativity creativity imagination imagination critical theory critical theory performance performance virtuosity virtuosity discovering a voice discovering a voice passion passion

Some courses we might teach (some of us do?) programming as a way of being programming as a way of being program appreciation program appreciation creative programming creative programming programming as performance programming as performance programming studio programming studio

} Jon Dron Jon Dron